We need more tech schools: GG

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By PATRICK TALU

GOVERNOR-General Sir Paulias Matane has reiterated his call for the establishment of more technical and vocational institutions in the country to cater for the increasing number of school leavers from secondary high school every year.
During a media conference last Friday after his Christmas message, Sir Paulias said lack of proper training and employment skills among school leavers made it impossible for them to secure employment and was a major contributing factor to the rise crimes committed by youth.
Sir Paulias stressed that technical and vocational education offered training that equipped students with the necessary skills to be self-reliant and productive whether they be employed or self-employed and would minimise the occurrence of the youth-related crimes.
Sir Paulias, an advocate of technical vocational training who recently launched the country’s first polytechnic college at what was then known as Lae Technical College emphasised that technical vocational education was the key to skill development in PNG.
The Governor-General’s call was further strengthened by United Nations resident coordinator David McLachlan-Kerr during a courtesy call to Sir Paulias.
Mr McLachlan-Kerr said: “Technical and vocational education is a key area in the five-year plan that the United Nations was interested in pursuing with the National Government.”
He said the recent approval of LNG project was a milestone for Papua New Guineans which will see the country’s gross domestic product double within a short period.
However, Mr McLachlan-Kerr warned that a project of such magnitude would also create social problem that the Government must address.
He assured Sir Paulias that the UN was committed to support the Government in providing expert assistance in addressing social issues associated with the introduction of LNG project, thus, emphasising that the future of the nations and it people depend on the education of its people.